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Willibaldo Garcia vs. Kenshiro Teraji: Who has the edge heading into their fight?
A potential showdown with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in 2026 hangs in the balance Saturday when Willibaldo Garcia puts his IBF super flyweight world title on the line against Japanese fighter Kenshiro Teraji at Ring V in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and live on DAZN Pay-Per-View .
Pound-for-pound sensation Rodriguez has the WBO, WBA, and WBC titles in his possession, with Garcia’s IBF championship being the missing piece to the 115-pound division’s undisputed crown.
Garcia (23-6-2 with 1 no contest, 13 KOs) captured the IBF super flyweight title via a split-decision win over Rene Calixto in their May rematch. His challenger Teraji (25-2, 16 KOs) is coming off a split-decision upset loss to Ricardo Sandoval, dropping the WBA and WBC flyweight titles in the process.
Will the 36-year-old Garcia pressure his way to a successful title defense? Or will Teraji bounce back and grab a title in a third division? DAZN News analyzes who has the edge heading into this title bout.
Boxing Styles
Willibaldo Garcia works behind a disciplined guard steadily, pressuring off the front foot with a jab.
Though he has a penchant for swinging erratically with an overhand right, the shot often aids him in getting closer to opponents on the inside where he does some of his best work.
In the pocket is where Kenshiro Teraji arguably executes his best boxing as well as he uses his left-handed jab as a distraction effectively to set up a more damaging right with pressure of his own.
Both men can be hit amidst their willingness to press forward making this styles matchup close and intriguing. Teraji gets the slightest edge for his punching volume from the outside and inside, plus his ability to adjust.
Edge: Teraji
Power
Teraji counts more knockout victories to his ledger, however he is moving up in weight to challenge Garcia who can be a potent slugger.
While swinging and missing wildly with overhand rights is part of what makes Garcia vulnerable, it is also what makes the champion a dangerous power puncher.
Edge: Garcia
Mental Warfare
In being a bit slow out the box against Sandoval and subsequently nipped in a split decision, Teraji got an invaluable lesson in the importance of putting together a complete fight.
Moving up a division, the Japanese fighter should have the urgency to be unrelenting round after round in attempting to outpoint the champion — even if it means engaging in a war with Garcia.
His last in-ring experience mandates just that, giving him the advantage in mental warfare.
Edge: Teraji
Who has the edge in Garcia vs. Teraji?
DAZN News gives Teraji the slight 2-1 edge in a tough contest to call due to both fighters’ pressuring off the front foot.
Who will set himself up in the best position for a possible mega bout with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in 2026? We are about to find out in a fight that could very well steal the show in an action-packed Ring V card.
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